Being creepy and cooling off with the fan.

 Reenacting a pic of my Dad on his mission to Colombia.

Took forever to write today because we went on a sweet hike to a place llamado (called) Cerro Mbmby! 

It was tiiiight. In Dad terms my “saw” is very sharp and hopefully I will leave enough time to send the pics today!

This week was Swagalishish. . . but in a spiritual way. 

We had alot of animo... which I don’t know how to say in English. I’m losing mi Ingles! We had tons of spirit and we worked hard! To save time and still get the info out I will paste my weekly email to my Mission Presidente.

 Hola Presidente!

Well, we had a very good week in Yby Yau. We had lots of animo and worked HARD! I loved it! We are trying to really focus on finding the people ready for our message and also the leaders we are looking for for our ward. Hermana Willis told me a story of a town that wanted a chapel so they looked in the phone book for a carpenter and started there (teaching and eventually baptizing him and so forth). We are doing the same thing. If we want this strong ward, we’ve gotta look for the leaders we need. We organized a list of our ward and much like a fantasy football league we put investigators and members into callings. We know that that isn’t going to be exactly how it turns out or anything, but it is helpful to have a goal of a dream of who these people could become. We also, of course, had some spaces blank and there we wrote attributes we would want in these people and recognize (such as a loving disposition, a want to follow christ, humble etc...) and now we are finding and fighting like lions to find these leaders we need. 

This week Daniel Vera (an investigator) came to church and it was AWESOME! Nothing quite like those people who are looking for the truth and then do their part-  searching to find it! Compromisos (promises) are So SO vital in conversion for that exact reason. God sends us blessings when we keep his commandments. We (as missionaries) explain these commandments or compromisos and invite them to keep them. In turn we invite them to partake of the sweet blessings God promises all who keep the commandments 

 (Mosiah 2¨41). 

The reason we get so stoked when people keep their compromisos is because we know that God will bless them and then they’re gonna want more and more of that same happiness! It is easier to explain the promised blessings and peace of the spirit once they have had a taste. 

I am learning so much from God, The Elders, the investigators (and All the people here) and SO SO SO much from Hermana Willis. I thank God every day for this opportunity to truly get to know Him, get to serve and help my brothers and sisters and get to strengthen my own testimony and knowledge of this gospel. Win! Win! Win! situation. Its not always easy, but as long as I look up rather than down on hard days, I always remember and see that is it worth it. 

Let me know if there is anything more I can be doing to serve you, your family, the mission, my ward, the people--- Anything!

Thank you for all that you and your Wife do. 

Love Hermana Valenzuela 

That is a pretty accurate recap of the week and it went by in a flash, a happy flash. 

I can now pray in Guarani... except only the steps of praying. For example: I can say “Father in Heaven”, “I am thankful for”, and “te pido por”, and then “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen” , .... but then the actual things I still have to say in Spanish, because I don’t have the vocab I need yet “but I´m learning” (Mr. Beans guy in Rat Race)  

I can also say things like “May we sing for you?”, “May we pray?” , and

 “It is hot”(used daily)

Pray for my Guarani, because I super want to learn! Also pray for Romina and Lorenza who are being kind enough to teach us for about 30minutes a week. We had 54 contacts this week and I said WOOHOO! and HNA Willis said “Oh yeah, your Dads number!” -proving that I talk about you guys (maybe too much) but it’s only because I super duper (like the skate team) love you all! 

This whole mission thing is going along swimmingly and I thank all for their help-(Prayers, financials, emails, letters, packages, happy thoughts, EVERYTHING!) 

I couldn’t do it without you!

I called the office this week and they said there is MAIL for me!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! It usually takes about a month for it to actually GET to me because we are in our little corner of the jungle, but even just knowing it’s there is comforting.

Same thing with home. Sometimes I get a little teary (or a lot) thinking of home but even just knowing home is there is comforting. You are all there and eso me da consuelo. It makes me think of our other home, Cloud 9, los cielos, Heaven.... I know it’s there and I know He is there. I know that my Redeemer lives... What comfort this sweet sentence gives.... 

That is my message after a happy week (not an easy week... but happy) of hard work. .... On to another I go! 

I continue to invite those who want to know the Lord more to seek and they WILL find, knock and it Shall be opened unto. . . but first you gotta keep your compromisos! (To see these same thoughts put more beautifully read a talk David A Bednar gave feb 3 2006 llamado (called) Seek Learning by Faith) 

Love to all from the sweaty jungle of Paraguay,

Hermana Valenzuela

 

/\   Elder Lira and Elder (zoom in on his tag, I forgot his name) at the Terminal we call home.

Fernando (the serious one)

Leandro (eating... lol he is cool)

 ME and Sister Willis (my arm looks like it could be her arm) and 

Elder (Jared) Munoz and Elder (Kaden) Billings

On Sundays we make the eElders food because they have to stay at the chapel and do Bishop stuff. We like to get fancy. Told you I wasn't starving.! Also a photo of a package Sis Willis got- all duct taped and with a pic of Jesus. This is a good idea of how to keep packages ecure because some peoples packages have been broken into. 

Our district being awkward for a family photo. hahaha

 Lorenza and I at church

Soaking my toe :(

So after last email and last week, a particularly rough week for me, I left my email to Mom and others pleading for prayers of comfort. They worked! This week was great. The very day I sent the emails things started looking up. Thanks for all the prayers everyone. Keep them coming! 

We had our first transfers in our little town of Yby Yau. 

Leandro (the greatest convert ever) threw us a little party and we ate hot dog sandwiches. It was awesome! Goodbye, Elder Billings. 

We had to travel to Asuncion for fingerprints and immigration. We took a midnight bus and arrived at 5:30 AM. Did our stuff (I found my brother ELDER VALENZUELA from Bogota Columbia)... but he didn’t know Dad. 

I saw the temple (I get to go to the temple in April) 

I love cities, but I know my little EAT DIRT town needs me, so we bought tickets for a bus home.... 

They told us the WRONG TIME OF DEPARTURE!!!

We and about 20 other missionaries (all going to different locations) had to switch our tickets and wait in the Terminal from 12PM until 10PM! WOWZA! 

But... if I’m honest..I loved it! It was like God knew I was stressed... or as Dad would say, he knew my saw needed sharpening and he forced me to slow down a bit and have a day off. We contacted in the Terminal, looked at shops (only looked because we had no money) and talked to each other. One missionary, Elder Lira, and I poured our souls in a particularly satisfying talk-session. He is from Brazil and was at the CCM with me. One of the 2 people who flew with me on the plane. We have the same amount of time out on our missions and are in similar situations with our towns and training. The more we talked, the better we felt. OMG I FEEL THE SAME WAY! can be the greatest sentence to hear after thinking you were the only person who loves city life that has been shipped off to the jungle with a tiny TINY ward. The more we talked, the more we bonded and kept saying IM SO GLAD IM NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THIS! 

We took a photo and swore to, every transfer to update each other on this crazy thing we’re doing and take a new photo since we also started together. It was funny talking to him in Portuguse-Guarani-Castellano-English. 

We made it home and the rest of the week went over well. 

We made Valentine treats for some of the less active members and recent converts. (SO HARD on a sugar fast) and delivered them. It was a perfect intro to talk about love and the love Christ has for us (2 Nephi 26_24). I also made sure EVERYONE (the WHOLE TOWN) knew that MY sister was getting married that day! It was hard missing my first HUGE event and missing my 2nd sisters wedding! I know she knows I was thinking of her, praying for her, I am so happy for her and I know she knows how much I love her. Also I wrote a novel in my journal about all my tender feelings that day that Im sure will be embarassingly fun to read with her when I get home. I love you Stee and I hope my letter gets there soon so this all sounds more profound and meaningfull-er. Congrats to you and Kenny. You both Shine with the Light from the sun! Also- Congrats to my bestie Phoebe who got her MISSION CALL! She and I will be tearin’ UP the mission field together come June 25th! Watch OUT Mexico City, The Coolest Cat is coming your way! LOVE YOU PHEEBS! SO HAPPY! SO PROUD

LORENZA came to church which was SO great because she got to hear me give a talk and cry the whole time (you know how I do) 

AND I have a BRUTAL ingrown toenail...

That’s basically all I have to report and I still have photos and emails to read and write.

I love you all. 

ªALL is well, All is well.ª 

This week was a roller coaster of emotions...and WEATHER! 

We had the hottest day so far! (41 degrees Celsius...HUMID) That day Hermana Willis and I walked 6 miles up this HUGE hill to get to one of our members house to do service. We worked in the BLAZING sun for 2 hours! On the walk home we kept having to stop in the shade and rest just to not be under the SUN! We almost passed out in SIGHT of our house  (a few feet away from our door) because it was so blasted HOT! . . . Then a half hour later we had the biggest storm so far! CrAzY Paraguay! The wind was fierce and blew down trees and gates in town (we are fine). 

This is about how my week went as well. Ups and downs! But I like it because it stays interesting. On Friday we went to Pedro Juan(2 hour bus ride) for a Zone Conference and I got my first bundle of LETTERS! (For SURE an UP!) We found we have yet another mouse (a DOWN). And many more in between. We had the most inspiring lesson with the best investigator and the strongest spirit... and then the next house we visit we´ll get stuck on something silly (como el semptimo dia) and end up talking in circles and wasting time.... I don’t like that. 

We ended the week with stake conference. The Ward rented a bus. Hermana Willis and I woke up at 4:00 am and walked around (at 4:30) to our members houses to get them up and ready sunday morning to leave at 5. . .  I won’t say it went off without a hitch, but finally we were all on and then we were off to Pedro Juan (for the 2nd time that week). It was a GREAT conference and I was really happy to be in a big ol´ ward and remember what it’s like when 4 kids from foreign countries aren´t running the show. 

My favorite part of the week and every day is Personal Study, when I get to read The Book of Mormon. 

I love everything about that Book. I love the joy it has brought me. I love the unity and happiness it has brought my family. I love the love my parents showed to me by raising me with a knowledge of who I am. That knowledge and more of God´s plan for us comes from that book. I love the stories inside of it and what I can learn from the people and prophets of old. I love the story of how, by the power of God, it was translated and brought forth for US to have today! I love that, to me, it means God LIVES! He is real. He is ACTIVELY guiding and helping his children (us), RIGHT NOW! TODAY!! 

We are finding (throughout the whole mission, not just my area) that the members who are becoming inactive or falling away have never read it. I invite all (those with firm testimonies, those dwindling in doubts and unbelief, and those who are searching to know the truth alike) to read it "tapa a tapa" (Cover to cover). Don´t just read FROM it. Don´t rely on an old past memory of reading it. Don´t count the time you read it in Seminary or with your family, but YOU, personally to READ IT. Read the WHOLE thing. Starting with the Introduction, the testimonies of the 3 witnesses, the 8 witnesses and the testimony of Joseph Smith, Through Nephi and his goodly parents, READ PAST the ¨hard Isaiah¨ parts, ALL the way to Moroni´s Promise. Finish the Book.

The Whole Book.

And after that, I invite you, echoing Moroni´s invitation, to Pray. Pray with ALL your heart. Pray with faith that your prayer will be answered by a loving Father in Heaven, if the book is true.

"You can´t diss it till you try it".

 You cant know its true until you´ve read it.

 ALL. 

and pray with ALL of your ALL! 

(its kind of an ALL or nothing deal)

But thats my invitation to anyone reading this blog, most likely a billion miles away from me. 

The answers to all of life’s questions and the truthfulness of the Gospel balance on that small-ish, often blue, book. 

I invite you all to read it because I know it will "pass the test". 

I know its true. 

That is why I am these many miles away writing you once a week about my ups and downs and going through these crazy things, because I know its true and I can´t wait to share the warmth it brings with the people in Paraguay. 

Not that they need more HEAT. hahaha!

-Sister Lib

The locker in the MTC where my money was stolen from.

My group in the MTC was group "AARON"

My favorite Elder from the MTC

The three languages of The Book Of Mormon in my mission

There is a matching blister on the other foot

One of our rodent roomies... captured!